Demopheles.  But you won’t.  Religion isn’t a deception:  it is true and the most important of all truths.  Because its doctrines are, as I have said, of such a lofty kind that the multitude can’t grasp them without an intermediary, because, I say, its light would blind the ordinary eye, it comes forward wrapt in the veil of allegory and teaches, not indeed what is exactly true in itself, but what is true in respect of the lofty meaning contained in it; and, understood in this way, religion is the truth.

Philalethes.  It would be all right if religion were only at liberty to be true in a merely allegorical sense.  But its contention is that it is downright true in the proper sense of the word.  Herein lies the deception, and it is here that the friend of truth must take up a hostile position.

Demopheles.  The deception is a sine qua non.  If religion were to admit that it was only the allegorical meaning in its doctrine which was true, it would rob itself of all efficacy.  Such rigorous treatment as this would destroy its invaluable influence on the hearts and morals of mankind.  Instead of insisting on that with pedantic obstinacy, look at its great achievements in the practical sphere, its furtherance of good and kindly feelings, its guidance in conduct, the support and consolation it gives to suffering humanity in life and death.  How much you ought to guard against letting theoretical cavils discredit in the eyes of the multitude, and finally wrest from it, something which is an inexhaustible source of consolation and tranquillity, something which, in its hard lot, it needs so much, even more than we do.  On that score alone, religion should be free from attack.

Philalethes.  With that kind of argument you could have driven Luther from the field, when he attacked the sale of indulgences.  How many a one got consolation from the letters of indulgence, a consolation which nothing else could give, a complete tranquillity; so that he joyfully departed with the fullest confidence in the packet of them which he held in his hand at the hour of death, convinced that they were so many cards of admission to all the nine heavens.  What is the use of grounds of consolation and tranquillity which are constantly overshadowed by the Damocles-sword of illusion?  The truth, my dear sir, is the only safe thing; the truth alone remains steadfast and trusty; it is the only solid consolation; it is the indestructible diamond.

Demopheles.  Yes, if you had truth in your pocket, ready to favor us with it on demand.  All you’ve got are metaphysical systems, in which nothing is certain but the headaches they cost.  Before you take anything away, you must have something better to put in its place.